Roadside rescue of baby captured in photos

Feb. 22, 2014
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Pamela Rauseo, 37, performs CPR on her nephew, five-month-old Sebastian de la Cruz, after pulling her SUV over on the side of the road along the west bound lane on Florida State Road 836 on Feb. 20, 2014. / Al Diaz, Miami Herald

by Jolie Lee, USA TODAY Network

by Jolie Lee, USA TODAY Network

The miraculous rescue of a five-month-old baby who stopped breathing twice was captured in photos by Miami Herald photographer Al Diaz.

According to Diaz, Pamela Rauseo, 37, was heading westbound in heavy traffic on Florida State Road 836 Thursday when she stopped her SUV. Diaz was in his car behind Rauseo and heard screaming.

"I look up and the woman pops out of the car with the baby in her arms," Diaz told USA TODAY Network. The woman's baby, who turned out to be her nephew, he said, had stopped breathing, and she began to give him CPR.

Diaz, who said he does not know CPR, ran through the cars stuck in traffic to find someone who could help resuscitate baby Sebastian de la Cruz.

Lucila Godoy, 34, of Miami left her three-year-old son in her car to help, the Miami Herald reports.

Diaz said he also flagged down a police officer. Soon, other officers arrived. Luckily the baby had started breathing, Diaz said.

When it seemed the situation had calmed down, Diaz got his camera from his trunk to document the scene.

But when Diaz started shooting photos, the baby stopped breathing again.

Rauseo then performed CPR on her nephew a second time, Diaz said.

"The hero in this story is Pamela," Diaz said. "She's the one that saved the baby."

The Herald reports that de la Cruz was born prematurely and has respiratory issues,

The baby was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami where he was listed in stable condition Thursday, the Herald reports.